Actuator cap for dispensers having rotate-to-lock captive button



a- 2. 1969 w. R. ODONNELL ET AL 3,460,719

ACTUATOR CAP FOR DISPENSERS HAVING ROTATE-TO-LOCK CAPTIVE BUTTON Filed April 20, 1967 INVENTORS ODonnell Banyac sky William 12 :gthur J.

AGENT United States Patent 3,460,719 ACTUATOR CAP FOR DISPENSERS HAVING ROTATE-TO-LOCK CAPTIVE BUTTON William R. ODonnell and Arthur J. Banyacsky, Trumhull, Comm, assignors to Valve Corporation of America,

Bridgeport, Conu., a corporation of Delaware Filed Apr. 20, 1967, Ser. No. 632,272 Int. Cl. G01f 11/00; B6511 83/00 US. Cl. 222---320 7 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A locking-type actuator cap comprising an outer stationary tubular shell having a deep front notch through which the product is discharged, and comprising a captive depress button vertically movable in the shell and having a side nozzle for discharging the product. The button is turnable in the shell between on the one hand a discharging position wherein the nozzle is disposed at the said notch and the button can be depressed, and on the other hand a non-discharging position wherein depressing movement of the button is prevented and the nozzle is concealed by being disposed behind the wall of the shell. A boss in the button extends through an apertured wall of a cup in the stationary shell, and has a projection which prevents its withdrawal from the cup wall.

Cross references (1) US. Patent No. 3,050,219.

(2) US. Patent No. 3,158,292.

(3) US. Patent No. 3,221,950.

(4) US. Patent No. 3,276,641.

(5) Copending application of Herbert G. Lehmann, Ser. No. 529,705, filed Feb. 24, 1966, and having common ownership with the present application.

(6) Copending application of Elmer Lipman, Ser. No. 597,050, filed Nov. 25, 1966, and having common ownership with the present application.

(7) Copending application of William R. ODonnell and Arthur J. Banyacsky, Ser. No. 623,469, filed Mar. 15, 1967, and having common ownership with the present application.

Background This invention relates to actuator caps for dispensers, and more particularly to caps wherein a movable part or button is held captive and can be releasably locked in its non-discharging position.

Various locking-type actuator caps have been proposed and produced in the past. Some of these prior caps have had tear strips or removable pieces which either were not adapted to replacement after use or else were not convenient to replace from the standpoint of the average user or consumer. Others which did not have removable pieces were more complicated, involving additional parts which undesirably added to the cost, and involving nozzles which were at all times unprotected and exposed, being susceptable to contamination, dirtying, etc. In general the existing actuator caps did not elfectively retain or hold captive the movable member or depress button, in a simple and economical manner.

Summary The present invention obviates the above disadvantages and particularly the latter one, and an object of the invention is to provide a novel and improved locking-type actuator cap for a hand-held dispenser, wherein by the use of but two relatively movable permanently-retained parts the actuator member can be easily and quickly locked or unlocked while at the same time it is securely held captive and the nozzle is concealed and covered for the locked condition. This is accomplished by the provision of telescoped inner and outer parts which have relative turning and axial movements, said parts having a lost-motion connection which permits these movements and which utilizes some of the prior or already existing structure of caps of this type. The parts as provided by the invention comprise a tubular stationary outer cap member having in its front wall a deep notch through which the product can be discharged, in conjunction with a vertically and turnably movable nozzle carrying member disposed in the outer member. 'Cooperable lock means are effective to prevent depressing movement of the nozzle member for a given rotative locking position, and to permit depressing movement for another rotative position. For the locking position of the nozzle member the nozzle thereof is disposed behind the wall of the outer member, being thereby concealed and covered thereby. The central hollow discharge and mounting boss of the nozzle-carrying inner member cooperates with an inner apertured transverse wall of the outer cap member to effect the retention or captivity of the inner member.

Other objects of the invention are to provide an improved locking and captive type dispenser as above set forth, which is small and compact, especially simple and economical to fabricate, is easily assembled, and which is characterized by a reliable and foolproof operation; to provide such an actuator, wherein the mode of operation is quickly grasped and understood by the consumer, and wherein the covering and protecting of the nozzle automatically occurs as the cap is placed in the locking condition; to provide an actuator as above, wherein the parts can be readily molded of plastic material, in simple and inexpensive molds.

Other features and advantages will hereinafter appear.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a front elevational view of a dispenser having a looking-type actuator cap with captive depress button as provided by the invention. The button. is shown in its operative position, ready for effecting a discharge.

FIG. 2 is a side elevational View of the dispenser and locking cap of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is an axial sectional view of the cap construction, taken on the line 3--3 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is an axial sectional view similar to that of FIG. 3, but showing the depress button in the locked, inoperative position.

FIG. 5 is a view mostly in elevation, of the dispenser with the actuator cap in the locked position of FIG. 4.

FIG. 6 is an axial sectional view of the tubular body part per se of the actuator cap, the view being somewhat similar to the showings of FIGS. 3 and 4.

FIG. 7 is an axial sectional view of the body part of the actuator cap, taken through a sectioning plane which is to the plane of FIGS. 3, 4 and 6.

FIG. 8 is a side elevational View of the captive depress button of the cap construction.

As shown, the dispenser comprises a pressurized container 10 having a crimped neck portion 12 which contains the discharge-controlling valve mechanism (not illustrated), and having an upstanding hollow depressible valve stem 14 through which the flow of the discharging product passes when the stem is depressed or moved downward. Pressurized containers and valves such as that indicated at 10, 12, 14 are well known, to those skilled in the art, and accordingly further details are not given herein. One type of such pressurized container which is suitable for use with the cap construction of the present invention is illustrated and described in US. Patents Nos. 3,039,659 and 3,104,034.

The improved locking-type actuator cap construction with captive button as provided by the present invention comprises an outer stationary tubular shell or body 16 which has means for attaching it endwise to the dispensing container 10. Such means is shown herein as including an internal annular shoulder 18 and below the same an internal annular head 20 adapted to respectively engage the upper and lower edge portions 22, 24 of the container neck structure 12. It will be understood that the tubular body 16 may be forced in place over the neck structure 12, so as to be retained thereby in the position illustrated in FIGS. l5.

The present improved cap construction further compr1ses a captive depress member 26 which is ShOWn as in the form of an inverted hollow cup having a finger engageable top wall 28 and a tubular side wall 30. The member 26 additionally has a finger grip means or rim 31 around its top edge, shown herein as an annular shoulder or bead. Disposed in the tubular side wall is an orifice or nozzle member 32 which communicates witth a horizontal bore or passage 34 that in turn communicates with a vertical passage 36 disposed in a depending hollow boss 33 adapted to receive and frictionally grip the valve stem 14. The depress button 26, although held captive, is vertically movable in the outer body 16 whereby its downward movement will effect a corresponding downward movement of the valve stem 14, resulting in a discharge of the container contents upward through the stem 14, vertical passage 36, and thence horizontally through the passage 34 and out from the nozzle 32.

The captive depress button 26 is not only vertically movable in the body 16, but also is turnably movable in said body, and cooperable abutment means in the form of stops and also shelf members are provided on the button 26 and the body 16 to control both the vertical and the turning movements of the button. The depress button is prevented from having downward movement by such cooperable shelf members when it is in a predetermined raised and turned inoperative position in the body 16, such inoperative position being illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 5, and for such raised inoperative or locked position of the depress button 26 it is held captive and the discharge nozzle 32 thereof is completely covered and concealed by a side wall of the body 16 whereas the nozzle is uncovered and discharge through a front notch in said side wall during the actuating movement of the button.

The stationary body 16 has a deep rounded front notch 40 which provides the clearance for the nozzle 32 as clearly depicted in FIG. 1, whereby a discharge of the container contents may take place from the nozzle and through the notch 40 as the button 26 is depressed from the raised position. This arrangement is clearly understood from an inspection of FIGS. 2 and 3. However, if the depress button or member 26 is turned through approximately 90 from the position of FIGS. 1 and 3, to the position illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 5, the discharge nozzle 32 will be disposed behind and concealed by the side wall of the stationary body 16.

The stationary body 16 also has a deep clearance notch 42 at its rear, diametrically opposite the front notch 40 for the sake of symmetry and for simplicity in the assembly of the button to the body in either of two possible positions, as will be later explained in greater detail.

The positioning or movement limiting abutment means provided on the button 26 and body 16 comprise essentially a depending lug 44 on the button, which extends downward from the outer wall portion 30 of the button as seen in FIGS. 3 and 8. For the purpose of symmetry and to simplify the assembly of the body and button, the latter also has a second or rear depending lug 46 which is diametrically opposite the front lug 44. The front lug 44 is cooperable with a shelf-like formation 48 projecting inward from the inside wall of the body 16, said shelflike formation being adapted for engagement with the bottom of the lug 44, this being illustrated in FIG. 4.

When such engagement occurs, downward movement of the button 26 is prevented. Simultaneously, the second or rear lug 46 of the button 26 engages an opposite shelflike formation 50 provided in the body 16 diametrically opposite the formation 48.

Adjoining the shelf-like formations 48, 50 are clearance spaces 52, 54 respectively, which are adapted to accommodate the lugs 44, 46 when the depress button 26 is pressed downward from the raised, operative position illustrated in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3. It will be seen that by the above construction the button 26 may be actuated only While in the discharging position of FIGS. 1-3, wherein the nozzle 32 is aligned with the front notch 40 and has clearance, to effect a discharge of the container contents through the said front notch. If, from the raised operative position of FIGS. 1-3 the button 26 is turned clockwise as viewed from the top, the depending lugs 44, 46 will be engageable respectively with the ledge or shelf formations 48, 50 whereby downward movement of the button is prevented While at the same time the nozzle 32 is covered and concealed by the side wall of the body 16.

Further, the body 16 has stop shoulders projecting inwardly from its inside wall and cooperable with the lugs 44, 46 of the depress member to limit the turning thereof to the two positions illustrated respectively in FIGS. 3 and 4, wherein the lugs are either disengaged from the shelf formations 48, 50 or else engaged with the said shelf formations. The said stop shoulders are indicated respectively by the numerals 58, 60 (see FIGS. 6 and 7). The shoulders 58, 60 are respectively engageable with the side edges of the depending lugs 44, 46 to limit the clockwise turning movement of the button 26 as viewed from the top. To limit the counterclockwise turning movement of the button 26, the lugs 44, 46 engage respectively shoulders 62, 64 disposed on the inside wall of the body 26, as shown in FIGS. 6 and 7. The stop shoulders 58, 60 and 62, 64 restrict the turning movement of the button 26 to approximately 90 from the raised operative position shown in FIGS. 1-3 to the raised inoperative position illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 5.

In accordance with the present invention, novel and simple means are provided in conjunction with the above structure, for holding the button 26 captive in the cap body 16 for all operative positions of the button while still permitting all the necessary freedom of movement required for the stated functions. The said means advantageously utilizes part of the normally provided or existing structure commonly found in actuator caps of this type.

Considering FIGS. 6 and 7, the cap body 16 is provided with a detent member in the form of an inverted cup portion 68 having a cylindrical side wall 70 and a transverse, apertured top wall 72 which includes a central aperture 74. The cup 68 has lugs 76 joined to the side wall of the body 16, by which the cup is supported in the body in spaced relation to the side wall, as shown. The apertured wall 72 is disposed within the upper portion of the body 16, and is adapted to slidably receive the depending boss 38 as seen in FIGS. 3 and 4. Additionally the lower end of the boss 38 is provided with a rounded annular bead 78 whose inner and outer diameters are respectively greater than the inner and outer diameters of the boss 38.

The apertured wall 72 and the boss 38 and bead 78 thereof are molded of yieldable or resilient plastic whereby the wall is circumferentially expandable slightly and the head circumferentially compressible slightly. Thus the bead 78 may be slightly larger than the aperture 74 and the boss 38 and head 78 may be forced through the wall 72 to effect the assembly of the parts.

This construction effects a lost-motion connection between the button 26 and body 16. In FIGS. 1-5 the bead 78 engages the underside of the wall 72 and normally prevents further upward movement of the button or its removal from the body 16. However, the button 26 can be depressed, whereby the boss 38 moves downward, deeper into the aperture 74, for the dispensing position of FIG. 3.

Reliable novel means are provided to effectively limit the downward or depressing movement of the button 26, such means comprising the annular shoulder or rim 31 which is engageable with opposite top edge portions of the walls of the tubular shell 16. Referring to FIG. 1, when the button 26 is depressed the load which occurs in halting the depressing movement is taken by the rim 31 at diametrically opposite points, thus preventing canting or tilting of the button, malformation of interior parts and malfunctioning.

It will now be seen from the foregoing that we have provided a novel and improved locking type actuator construction for hand-held dispensing devices wherein the locking or unlocking of the depress member is easily and quickly effected by a turning movement of the member, such turning movement also being utilized to cover or conceal the nozzle piece behind the wall of the outer stationary member of the cap construction. Additionally, the movement limiting means for the depress member comprise a simple captive detent means and also simple abutment or shoulder formations provided on said member and on the inner wall of the outer stationary body member whereby there is eliminated the necessity for additional parts with the consequent assembly operations, and instead extreme simplicity and reliability of operation are had, as well as the advantage that the depress member and body member may be economically molded of plastic substance in simple mold cavities. The captivity of the button and the covering or concealing of the nozzle member is of especial importance where cleanliness is desired. For example, if the dispenser is to be carried in the purse, which is the usual place where the dispensed is used as a breath freshener, the fact that the nozzle 32 is covered and concealed when not in use adds to the cleanliness and utility of the device.

Variations and modifications may be made within the scope of the claims, and portions of the improvement may be used without others.

We claim:

1. A locking-type actuator cap construction for handheld dispensing devices comprising, in combination:

(a) a tubular stationary body having means for attaching it endwise to a dispensing container of the kind having an upstanding hollow depressible plunger through which the contents are discharged,

(b) a depress member comprising an inverted cup-like plug movable and slidable in the bore of the tubular body and adapted for connection to the plunger of the container to actuate the same,

(c) said depress member having an annular exterior peripheral stop shoulder along its top edge and having means including a side nozzle for discharging into the air the contents of the container which are received from the depressible plunger,

(d) said body having a deep front notch with which the nozzle is alignable whereby the discharge of the container contents can be effected through said notch, and having high walls on opposite sides of the front notch, said high walls having opposite top edges disposed at a common level and adapted to constitute stops for engagement with the annular stop shoulder of the depress member to limit the downward movement of the member when such movement is efiecting the discharge,

(c) said depress member being turnable in said body between predetermined operative and inoperative circumferential positions as well as being axially movable in the body between raised and lowered positions,

(f) cooperable abutment means on said body and member, limiting turning of the member in the body to and between said predetermined operative and inoperative positions when the member is in its raised position, said abutment means preventing downward movement of the member to the lowered position when the member is in the raised inoperative position,

(g) said nozzle being disposed behind and being concealed by the wall of the tubular body when the depress member is in the raised and inoperative position,

(h) cooperable means on said body and depress member, holding the latter captive on the body while permitting turning and limited axial movements of the member thereon.

2. A locking-type actuator cap construction for handheld dispensing devices comprising, in combination:

(a) a tubular stationary body having means for attaching it endwise to a dispensing container of the kind having an upstanding hollow depressible plunger through which the contents are discharged,

(b) a depress member movable in the tubular body and adapted for connection to the plunger of the container to actuate the same,

(0) said depress member having means including a side nozzle for discharging into the air the contents of the container which are received from the depressible plunger,

(d) said body having a deep front notch with which the nozzle is alignable whereby the discharge of the container contents can be effected through said notch,

(e) said depress member being turnable in said body between predetermined operative and inoperative circumferential positions as well as being axially movable in the body between raised and lowered positions,

(f) cooperable abutment means on said body and member, limiting turning of the member in the body to and between said predetermined operative and inoperative positions when the member is in its raised position, said abutment means preventing downward movement of the member to the lowered position when the member is in the raised inoperative posinon,

(g) said nozzle being disposed behind and being concealed by the wall of the tubular body when the depress member is in the raised and inoperative position,

(h) cooperable means on said body and depress member, holding the latter captive on the body while permitting turning and limited axial movements of the member thereon,

(i) the cooperable means which holds the member captive comprises a central hollow depending boss on the depress member and a centralized inverted cup-like portion of the cap body,

(j) said cup-like portion having an apertured transverse top wall in the upper portion of the cap body,

(k) said depending boss extending through and being vertically movable in the aperture of said transverse top wall, being adapted to frictionally receive and grip the depressible plunger of the dispensing container, and having on its lower portion a projection which normally prevents passage of the boss completely out of the said aperture.

3. An actuator cap construction as in claim 2, wherein:

(a) the depress member comprises an inverted cuplike structure,

(b) said cup-like portion of the body being telescopically received in the cup-like structure of the depress member.

4. An actuator cap construction as in claim 2, where- (a) the cup-like portion of the body and remaining portions thereof define an annular cavity,

(b) said depress member comprising an inverted cuplike structure which is receivable in said annular cavity.

5. An actuator cap construction as in claim 2, where- (a) the apertured transverse wall of the cap body is yieldable and capable of limited circumferential expansion around the aperture thereof,

(b) said projecetion of the boss being of sloped configuration adapted to temporarily expand and to be forced through said apertured wall during assembly of the depress member to the cap body.

6. An actuator cap construction as in claim 2, whene- (a) the projection on the depending boss is yieldable and comprises a rounded bead of larger inside and outside diameters than the boss,

(b) said projection being slightly circumferentially compressible whereby it can be forced through the aperture of the said transverse wall during assembly of the depress member to the cap body.

7. An actuator cap construction as in claim 6, where- (a) the apertured transverse Wall of the cap body is yieldable and capable of limited circumferential expansion around the aperture thereof.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,752,066 6/1956 Ayres 222402.11 X 10 3,050,219 8/1962 Sagarin et a1. 222-40213 X 3,180,536 4/1965 Meshberg 222-40211 3,185,350 5/1965 Abplanalp et a1. 222402.11 3,249,260 5/1966 Goldberg 222--l82 15 ROBERT E. REEVES, Primary Examiner FREDERICK R. HANDREN, Assistant Examiner US. Cl. X.R. 0 222-402 

